Independence (Charlotte, NC) head coach Tom Knotts will return to the sidelines next week if his team can win its opening round North Carolina 4AA high school playoff game tonight against Greensboro page.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman has lifted the paid suspension, but said that Knotts, who missed last week's loss to Butler, will not be able to coach until next week. The loss to Butler was the first in-state loss for Independence in 114 games for the seven-time defending state champ.
Knotts got into an altercation last week with Isaac Richardson Avant of Philadelphia following a junior varsity game at Butler. Witnesses said Avant, the parent of a Patriots sophomore junior varsity player, was screaming obscenities at Knotts after the game, which Butler won 15-14 last Thursday, ending a six-year win streak for the Patriots' junior varsity. Avant was upset with Knotts' play-calling and witnesses said he kept up the verbal abuse despite the protests of his son.
Knotts approached Avant, witnesses said, and Avant pushed a fence towards the coach. When Knotts pushed back, the fence struck Avant, causing several cuts on his face.
After an investigation, it was decided that no charges would be filed against Knotts.
Meanwhile on the field, the loss to Butler dropped the Patriots to a #10 seed in the 4AA playoffs. Tonight's game will be the first road playoff game for the school since winning its first title back in 2000. If the Patriots had beaten Butler, they would have had home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
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